event

Going to TEDxABQ on Saturday September 17? So are we! Drop by the Quelab booth — outdoors on the Civic Plaza for the “audience engagement” session from 10 am to 1 pm, and indoors during the Speaker Sessions from 1 pm on. Learn more about our makerspace and how you can start making at Quelab!

We will have live demonstrations of a 3d printer, a wood lathe and a hand-made bowling lane. (I’m guessing the convention center isn’t going to let us take ALL of our fun toys inside, so arrive early if you’d like to see everything!) We will also be giving away some laser-cut gears (made on Quelab’s laser cutter — some of the gears are being cut by the laser head in the photo above), which are part of a geared back-scratcher (also a great fidget!) design that you can make yourself with the free design files at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1766894. If you don’t have a 3d printer or laser cutter, or would like to learn how to use them, come visit us at Quelab and we can help you! Our open hacknights are every Sunday and Tuesday from 7-10 PM at Quelab, 680 Haines Ave NW, Albuquerque NM, 87102. Tours at 7:30 and 8:30.

“We are not just consumers. We are makers of Things.”Dale Dougherty, creator of Maker Faire

Part science fair, part county fair, part interactive show-and-tell, and part something entirely new, Albuquerque Mini Maker Faire is a multi-generational gathering that brings together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “Makers” come to the Albuquerque Mini Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned. Maker Faire features hands-on activities, learning opportunities and the chance for visitors to learn new skills such as soldering, sewing, rocket building and welding.

Typical maker activities include engineering-oriented pursuits such as electronics, robotics, 3-D printing, and the use of CNC tools, as well as more traditional activities such as metalworking, woodworking, textiles and the artisanal arts. Makers take a do-it-yourself approach to standardized hobbyist and engineering technologies, and encourage the re-use and modification of designs, materials, and techniques available in the public arena. Makers focus on learning, using and teaching these practical skills.

Adult $10, Kids $5, Senior Retired or Active Military $5

(Additionally, No Orientation this week, and while we will be there for unloading everything from Maker Faire, we probably won’t be up to a hacknight of projects).

There’s going to be all kinds of fun and interesting things for adults and kids of all ages: drone racing, model rockets, building and decorating the Go VanGo art car, propane flame effects, virtual and hands-on welding, interactive projects from Intel, learn to solder. Let your creativity, invention, and resourcefulness out to play!

Quelab will be there with 3D printers, a giant spirograph, a wood lathe, CNC machines, a solar hot air balloon, and too many other things to list. Look for the giant white tent on the North side of the museum.

Tickets $10 for adults and $5 for kids/seniors/military, at the door or online

This is a great chance to check out Quelab as well; we have added more tools and equipment since our grand opening, and of course we’ve been hacking more things as well. The latest arrival is our hackable smart fridge from ChillHub for participating in their Crate Hack event.

Quelab has held the first of our two Build Nights with MakeyMakey! We got people introduced to the MakeyMakey unit, learned how to hook them up, and about how the 11 keyboard inputs and 6 mouse inputs could be used.

Next week on Wednesday January 28th from 7pm-9pm Quelab is having another build night so bring your ideas and things to try!

Coming Soon (this Thursday, 15 November), Make: Magazine will be releasing their special “Make: Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing” (did you see that Dilbert?). To celebrate, they’re throwing a Hangout on Google+, as well as coordinating groups of Makers to get together and talk about making things.

If you’re interested in 3D-printing, if you have a 3D-Printer, or if you have no idea what I’m talking about, come on out and see what this whole thing is all about. Whether you’re a designer, inventor, hacker, tinkerer, or weekend DIYer–anyone interested in finding out more about 3D printing and design is welcome! Bring your laptops, tablets, smartphones to access the Internet and G+ Hangout On Air.

Taking the initiative to being more of an educational group, we’ve decided that Wednesday is now class day here at Quelab. Here on out, we want to have a class every Wednesday night after Co-Working.

So, to start it out I will be hosting a class on glass etching this coming Wednesday, starting at 7PM, and running until about 10PM, or until everyone is done with their project. It’ll be a simple class, with a $15 per-person fee, and I can teach up to ten people how to etch their own pint glass (or glass object brought).

And we intend on continuing this through September and October and beyond! If there is any subject you want to teach about, or you know someone who is passionate about what it is they do and they want to teach others, let them know, and we’ll see if we can fit them in. We’ve got tentative classes lined up all the way to December!

Circuit-Bending Hackerspace Rock Band, CMKT 4, is doing a workshop Wednesday, May 9th, 7-9:PM building contact microphones in conjunction with Quelab. These microphones are powerful enough to do whatever you want, and accessible enough for all skill levels. Plus, they’re made out of bottle caps, which is just awesome. It’s a DIY electronics project that leaves you ready to do other projects, too. Register at any hacknight or through Eventbrite.

Workshop attendees will learn how to solder/improve existing soldering skills, work with recycled materials, and develop a basic understanding of piezoelectricity. The process involves a 45 minute dry-time, during which CMK4 will entertain the workshop attendees with a live performance. Additional kits and microphones will be available for purchase, as well.

There will be a separate members-only event later in May. If you’re interested, please contact us about details!

Our next Board Game Night is coming up on Thursday, September 8th at 6:30 pm. Play one of our board games or bring your own. I’ll be bringing the one pictured above–I’ve never run it for more than three people, so I’m really looking forward to it! These events have been a lot of fun in the past, hope you can join us! As always, admission to Board Game Night is FREE!